CRICKET | Page 4 SA ease to series-clinching win over Pakistan

Monday, January 7, 2019 FOOTBALL Jumada I 1, 1440 AH Chhetri passes GULF TIMES Messi as India beat Thailand 4-1 SPORT Page 2 FOOTBALL / AFC ASIAN CUP Australian horror show as Jordan stun champions , who had 76 percent of possession, were thwarted by Bani-Yaseen’s powerful first-half header

AFP competitive international, saw Al Ain, United Arab Emirates a close-range shot blocked by Shafi. The youthful Socceroos had ustralia’s Asian Cup plenty of possession in the op- title defence suff ered position half but rarely threat- a huge blow yester- ened, while Jordan were intent day when they were on breaking Australia’s fl ow and stunnedA 1-0 by Jordan in their seeking chances on the break. worst ever start to the competi- Their goal came from a corner tion. on 26 minutes, when defender ’s youthful Bani-Yaseen escaped Luongo’s side had confidently predicted marking and put a thump- victory in their Group B opener ing header into the top corner, but they were undone by Anas prompting jubilation in the Bani-Yaseen’s powerful first- strongly pro-Jordan crowd of half header. just under 5,000. Australia, who had 76 percent Suddenly Australia were rocking of possession but only six shots and three minutes later, they were on target, were thwarted by a grateful for Ryan’s fi nger-tip save brilliant double save from Jor- as he pushed Baha Abdelrahman’s dan’s Amir Shafi in the game’s free kick onto the bar. dying moments. In the second half, Arnold It left the injury-hit Aussies brought on and then with much to ponder ahead of to fi nd a way Friday’s game against Palestine, through Jordan’s defence. when they will need a win to get Celtic forward ’s their campaign up and running. stinging shot was kept out by The Jordanians lead group B Shafi , before Ikonomidis’s at- after the opening round of fi x- tempt at a follow-up was smoth- tures after a 0-0 draw in the ered by the defence. later game between Syria and Rogic passed up an opportu- Palestine, with the Palestinians nity for the equaliser on 72 min- holding on for a point despite utes, when he was free in the box Mohamed Saleh’s 69th minute but scooped his shot well over sending off . from ’s cross. Arnold, who led Australia to Six minutes later, the lively the 2007 quarter-fi nals in his Mabil smashed one off the up- fi rst stint as Socceroos boss, right with Shafi beaten, before called the goal “sloppy” and rued Ikonomidis’s header was scram- a slow start at the Hazza Bin Za- bled off the line. yed Stadium. had a goal “It was one of those days, a Jordan’s Anas Bani-Yaseen (right) in action with Australia’s (left) during the AFC Asian Cup match in Al Ain, UAE, yesterday. (AFP) chalked off for offside and with frustrating day when the ball just the last action of the game, didn’t seem to bounce,” he said, about where we can improve. Luongo and , and you something’, and today they FINGER-TIP SAVE Rawashdeh at his near post after Shafi denied both Ikonomidis adding: “If you’re going to lose a We’ll get over it very quickly.” exploited the space left by their were playing for the people of Australia bossed the opening Luongo was dispossessed. and , capping game, it’s better to lose your fi rst Jordan coach Vital Borkel- advancing backs, hailed his hard- Jordan,” said Borkelmans. exchanges but their Brighton Shortly afterwards, Aus- Australia’s misery and trigger- game. mans, who said he targeted Aus- running team. “They were running like they ’keeper Mat Ryan made the fi rst tralia’s former South Sudanese ing joyful celebrations among “It’s a wake-up call... it’s all tralia’s midfi elders Massimo “I told them today, ‘God gave had three lungs,” he added. save when he kept out Yousef refugee Awer Mabil, in his first the Jordanians.

SPOTLIGHT Qatar coach to ‘isolate’ team from politics at Asian Cup AFP Afi f, the fi rst Qatari to play in Doha Spain’s La Liga, and defender Abdulkarim Hassan, just voted the AFC 2018 player of the year. atar coach Felix In November, Qatar achieved Sanchez has vowed its most notable international to “isolate” his play- victory, beating Switzerland 1-0 ers from politics at the in Lugano. AsianQ Cup, which is taking place The average age of Qatar’s in the United Arab Emirates dur- starting line-up in Switzerland ing a diplomatic crisis. was 24 years and 195 days, and 13 The tournament represents of the 25 players who travelled to the fi rst visit by the Qatari na- Europe were Aspire graduates. tional side to the UAE since the Sanchez has worked with the beginning of the Gulf crisis. Qatari players at every level from Since June 2017, the UAE, the academy through the Under- along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain 19s, Under-20s, Under-23s and and Egypt, have imposed an ille- now the full team. gal blockade on Qatar. It is the beginning of a massive With the dispute now into its year for Sanchez and Qatar, who nineteenth month, the Asian Cup will also play in the Copa Amer- is the most high-profi le sporting Qatar players Hassan al-Haydos (left) and Abdulaziz Hatim disembark ica later in 2019. competition so far between the from the plane on their arrival in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night. In an Asian Cup group also former allies. consisting of Lebanon and North And nothing is likely to be ments about Qatar, or encoun- a distinct improvement since Korea, a resurgent ‘al-Annabi’ more highly-charged than the tered rival captains refusing to Spaniard Sanchez took charge in (the Maroons) will be confi dent meeting between Saudi and Qa- shake hands before the match. 2017. of reaching the knockouts. tar in a Group E match in Abu Qatar coach Felix Sanchez walks to the team bus on arrival for the AFC Asian Cup on Saturday night. However, goalkeeper Saad al- He has placed emphasis on It is the tenth time they have Dhabi on January 17. Sheeb said the players would re- young, largely Qatari-born play- qualifi ed for the Asian Cup but As if the on-pitch weight of concentrate solely on football. maintain their focus on the sport been imposed against Doha by main unaff ected. ers — rather than imported stars have never progressed further expectation surrounding Qatar’s “This [political situation] is and to isolate ourselves from the the UAE, Saudi and Bahrain. “In the end this is football,” he — who have progressed through than the quarter-fi nals. young team ahead of hosting the something we’ve discussed with rest of it all.” Qatari domestic sides who said. “We just control ourselves the Aspire Academy, a state- This time though they have a 2022 was not enough, the players,” he told AFP. The team arrived in UAE on have played in the UAE or Saudi and play football.” of-the-art Doha training centre lot to prove. now they have to navigate a deli- “They are very conscious and Saturday, having to fl y via Kuwait in the AFC Champions League which seeks to hothouse local “I certainly nominate Qatar to cate off -fi eld situation. I am convinced that during the in the fi rst sign this is no ordinary have previously spoken of delays IMPROVEMENT talent. be the dark horse of the tourna- Sanchez though has vowed to competition they will be able to trip — a ban on direct fl ights has at airport immigration and com- On the pitch, Qatar have shown These include forward Akram ment,” said Hassan. Gulf Times 2 Monday, January 7, 2019 FOOTBALL

AFC ASIAN CUP LA LIGA Griezmann special Chhetri passes Messi earns Atletico 1-1 draw at Sevilla

Reuters right at the end of the fi rst half Seville through Griezmann’s sizzling set-piece. The draw left Atletico second as India beat Thailand stunning free kick goal in the standings on 35 points with from Antoine Griez- Sevilla third on 33, while Barce- With 67 goals in his kitty, now only Ronaldo (85) tops Chhetri among active players mann earned Atletico lona, on 37 points and in action Madrid a 1-1 draw against Getafe later yesterday, againstA Sevilla in an entertaining were handed the chance to move game between La Liga’s second fi ve points clear at the top. and third-placed sides yesterday In a calmer second half, Atleti- which weakened both sides’ pur- co, who created few chances suit of leaders Barcelona. throughout the game, managed to Sevilla took a deserved lead at plug the holes that Sevilla, through a packed and rocking Sanchez veteran winger Jesus Navas in par- Pizjuan stadium in the 37th ticular, had been exploiting. minute with a close-range strike Ben Yedder missed another from Wissam Ben Yedder follow- chance for the home side, fail- ing a clever team move, shortly ing to fi nd the target when clean after striker Andre Silva had also through while team mate Quincy smacked the post for them. Promes saw an arrowed eff ort Ben Yedder missed a clear tipped away by Oblak. chance to double Sevilla’s advan- Sevilla’s goalkeeper Tomas tage but was thwarted by Atleti- Vaclik repelled both of Atletico’s co goalkeeper Jan Oblak, before best eff orts, from Griezmann and Atletico pulled themselves level Thomas Partey.

India’s Sunil Chhetri (right) fights for the ball with Thailand’s Chalermpong Kerdkaew during the AFC Asian Cup match in Abu Dhabi yesterday. (AFP) Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann (left) celebrates his goal with teammate Koke during the La Liga match against Sevilla in Seville, AFP Messi’s 65 international goals cue by drilling home his second Rwanda, has clashed with senior fourth time and fi rst since 2011. Spain, yesterday. (Reuters) Abu Dhabi when he opened the scoring of the game moments into the players and sparked dismay in “If I say it’s just another result from the penalty spot after 27 second half following a lung- India by stripping Chhetri of the would that be a cliche?” said minutes in a surprise rout. Only bursting run down the right captaincy. Constantine. unil Chhetri overtook Cristiano Ronaldo (85) tops the from Udanta Singh. “There’s no controversy about “We’ve won one game, got Marseille knocked out by Lionel Messi in inter- Indian among active players. Things got worse for Thailand rotating captains!” he snapped three points. We have two more national goals as crick- “I’m just happy for the boys — when Anirudh Thapa chipped in when quizzed by Indian media. games, that’s it.” amateurs in French Cup shock et-mad India stunned you could see on the faces how ju- a third in the 68th minute before “I’ve done it for four years. Thailand, appearing for the ThailandS 4-1 at the Asian Cup bilant they were after the game,” substitute Lalpekhlua Jeje com- Chhetri gives everything every since co-hosting the tournament Reuters rently riding high in the league football tournament yesterday, said 34-year-old Chhetri. pleted the rout to leave India as game he plays whether he’s cap- in 2007, have now won just one of Paris in fourth place, conceded in the veteran striker scoring twice “The India fans were amazing unlikely group leaders. tain or not.” 21 games at the Asian Cup. stoppage time to lose 1-0 at in their Group A opener to sur- so we hope we can go on and give “Did I expect to win 4-1? Thailand coach Milovan Ra- third-tier side Entente SSG. pass the Barcelona superstar. them something more to cheer No, but we’re not getting car- ‘TOTALLY DESERVED’ jevac made no excuses for this lympique de Marseille Angers also lost to an amateur Watched by the 12 Thai about.” ried away,” insisted India coach India fi nished runners-up on side’s humiliating defeat. crashed out the French side, beaten 1-0 by a Viry-Cha- schoolboys rescued from a The Blue Tigers were in front Stephen Constantine. their Asian Cup debut in 1964 “India totally deserved to win,” OCup in sensational tillon, while Nimes Olympique fl ooded jungle cave last year af- for just seven minutes, Thai “It’s just another game. There when it was a four-team com- said the Serb. “We didn’t under- style yesterday when fourth- were hammered 3-0 by Lyon ter being trapped for more than captain Teerasil Dangda restor- will be no issue with keeping the petition won by Israel. estimate them. They were aggres- division amateurs Andrezieux Duchere. two weeks, the War Elephants ing parity by bravely heading boys’ feet on the ground, don’t But they had lost six of their sive and fought for everything. beat them 2-0 on a weekend of Among the Ligue 1 clubs who had little answer to India’s home a Theerathon Bunmathan worry about that.” last seven games at the region- But it’s just one game. We have shocks for big clubs. did manage to qualify for the brimming energy in Abu Dhabi. free kick. The Englishman, formerly in al tournament, conceding 20 two more left so we have to learn Andrezieux’s ground was so next round were Olympique Chhetri moved past Argentine But Chhetri came to the res- charge of Malawi, Sudan and goals, before qualifying for the from our mistakes and go again.” small that they moved the game Lyonnais, who beat lower to nearby Saint-Etienne but league Bourges 2-0, and Stade even without home advantage de Reims, who beat Lens by BOTTOMLINE they were too good for their the same scoreline. more illustrious opponents and Bottom club Guingamp won won with a goal in each half. 4-2 away at Stade Pontivyen, The defeat extended Mar- while second-bottom AS Kyrgyzstan go from dead goats to Asian Cup hopefuls seille’s winless run to seven Monaco also got a rare win, matches in all competitions knocking out Canet Roussillon but they were not the only 1-0 away from home. AFP 24 teams. Ligue 1 side who failed to League leaders Paris St- Abu Dhabi “It’s something the whole advance to the last 32. Germain head to fourth-tier country has been eagerly wait- On Saturday, Montpellier, cur- Pontivy later yesterday. ing for. etter known for horse- “The Kyrgyz football federa- back wrestling, eagle tion is working to develop the hunting and dead goat sport despite minimal support SPOTLIGHT polo, Kyrgyzstan are from the government,” added hopingB to turn heads at this the Russian. “We are staying month’s Asian Cup football updated on the new trends and tournament. trying to play modern football.” Rooney arrested The former Soviet republic However, their hopes of sur- has made signifi cant progress viving Group C look likely to since joining the Asian Foot- hinge on results against Mar- for being drunk and ball Confederation in 1994 and cello Lippi’s China and Sven- the outsiders warned they will Goran Eriksson’s Philippines, be no pushovers in their debut also Asian Cup fi rst-timers. swearing: reports appearance at the continent’s South Korea, runners-up showpiece event. four years ago, should prove AFP in the northern Virginia suburbs Kyrgyzstan’s White Falcons too strong even without free- Washington of Washington. face China today in their open- scoring Tottenham forward The former England captain ing game in the United Arab Son Heung-min, who arrives in apparently was at the airport af- Emirates before meeting title time for their fi nal group game ormer England and ter a trip back from Saudi Arabia. favourites South Korea and the against China. Manchester United star He posted a photo of himself on Philippines, but coach Ale- “To play against the best Wayne Rooney was ar- December 14 from Riyadh at an ksandr Krestinin struck a defi - teams and players is the ideal rested last month for be- event. ant tone. situation for our development as Fing drunk and swearing in public Rooney is serving a two-year “We are not here just to make a team and individuals,” insisted and paid a $25 fi ne on Friday, ac- UK drink driving ban stemming up the numbers,” he told AFP. Krestinin. cording to multiple reports yes- from a September 2017 arrest in “We are serious, competitive “We just need to make sure we terday. England. participants and we will fi ght to are prepared for the challenge.” Court records obtained by The 33-year-old forward came get through to the last 16. It is a Krestinin exuded a quiet con- Washington ABC 7 News and to the US capital last July, signing new experience for us, but the Kyrgyzstan coach Aleksandr Krestinin guides a training session in Al Ain yesterday. (AFP) fi dence before today’s crunch tie The Athletic showed that Rooney with DC United and taking the whole country is behind us.” against China in Al Ain. was arrested in Loudon County, last-place Major League Soccer An impoverished, landlocked sports famous for their eye- the Silk Road, Kyrgyzstan has blessed with genuine talent in “There has been so much pos- Virginia, on December 16 for club into the playoff s in his fi rst nation of around 6mn people, popping ferocity. nevertheless made significant players such as Anton Zem- itive emotion across our country cursing and intoxication, a mis- half-season with the squad. Kyrgyzstan is fi ercely proud of Most notable among them strides in football since gaining lianukhin and Vitaly Lux. since we qualifi ed for the Asian demeanor for which he was re- Rooney was the centrepiece of its nomadic traditions, many is “kok-boru” — where riders independence in 1991 follow- Cup,” said the 40-year-old. leased from custody on his own United’s marketing campaign as of which are not for the faint- on horseback battle each other ing the collapse of the Soviet ‘NOTHING TO LOSE’ “But our fi rst goal is to go recognizance before paying the the team opened a new stadium, hearted. to grab a headless goat carcass Union. “To qualify for the Asian Cup is through the group stage. Every fi ne and court costs on Friday. the English star saying upon his The mountainous central from the dirt and throw it into a They have risen to 91st in the a remarkable achievement for team in our group has the same Rooney was arrested by the arrival he looked forward to the Asian country is home to nearly goal the size of a children’s pad- FIFA world rankings — 12th in us,” said Krestinin, whose side goals. Metropolitan Washington Air- challenge and enjoyed the rela- 20 forms of wrestling, bone dling pool. Asia, above Qatar, Uzbekistan, have benefi ted from the expan- “We have nothing to lose and port Authority at Dulles Interna- tive anonymity aff orded by sub- tossing and a handful of ancient Once at the crossroads of and North Korea — and are sion of the Asian Cup from 16 to everything to gain.” tional Airport, which is located urban life in America. Gulf Times Monday, January 7, 2019 3 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Top European teams get high profi le visits at Aspire

By Sports Reporter ambassador to Germany, Sheikh inspiring sports hub.” delighted to welcome these top- Doha Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Tha- He added: “The fact that FC fl ight teams to Doha and, in par- ni, who visited Bayern’s training Bayern Munich chooses Aspire ticular, to Aspire Zone. We’re camp. for their winter camp each year is fully prepared to provide a wide spire Zone Foundation Sheikh Saoud, AZF CEO Mo- clear evidence of the world-class range of technical, administra- (AZF) has welcomed hamed Khalifa al-Suwaidi and facilities and infrastructure that tive and medical support. I wish four top fl ight Euro- Bayern Munich Sporting Director is on off er, as well as the expertise all the teams all the success in the pean teams this week to Hasan Salihamidzic were seen on that is available. second half of the year.” completeA winter football train- the pitch witnessing the training “Aspire Zone’s global reputa- Salihamidzic appreciated the ing camps. Teams include Ger- camps. tion for hosting training camps visits by Sheikh Saoud and al- man side Bayern Munich, Dutch Commenting on his visit to the for major European teams will Suwaidi, and praised the plan- team PSV Eindhoven, and Bel- Bavarians’ camp, Sheikh Saoud defi nitely open the doors for ning and preparation made for gian sides Club Brugge and KAS said, “Hosting Bayern Munich hosting greater numbers of train- the camps. Eupen. for the ninth consecutive year ing camps in Qatar. Ten interna- He added that Aspire Zone During the world-class teams’ clearly demonstrates how the tional football teams are current- took care of the team’s entire training camps, AZF also wel- State of Qatar has become a re- ly in Aspire, all of whom are eager requirements from an organisa- comed a number of dignitaries gional sports capital and refl ects to take advantage of its world tional and logistical point of view including the Dutch ambassador the strength of the welcome and class training, accommodation and indicated the areas that the Dr Bahia Tahzib-Lie, who visited hospitality extended to interna- and entertainment facilities.” team will be focusing on during AZF CEO Mohamed Khalifa al-Suwaidi, Bayern Munich Sporting Director Hasan Salihamidzic and Qatar’s PSV’s training camp, and Qatar’s tional teams who visit this awe- AZF’s al-Suwaidi said, “We’re their current training camp. ambassador to Germany, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, at Aspire Zone.

FOCUS REPRIMAND Bayern hand Ribery City score seven in ‘heavy fi ne’ for FA Cup stroll, Oldham angry Tweetstorm knock out Fulham ‘We are going to try and do well in every competition we play in’

AFP London

remier League cham- pions Manchester City began their FA Cup campaign with a 7-0 Pthrashing of Rotherham yes- terday but Fulham, battling to avoid relegation from English football’s top-fl ight, were beat- en 2-1 by fourth-tier Oldham. Barnet ensured there would be a non-league presence in the fourth round with a 1-0 win away to second-tier Champion- ship club Sheffi eld United. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola may have made eight Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery takes part in a training session at changes from the team that Aspire Zone yesterday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil beat leaders Liverpool on Thursday but still AFP “Bosses must suspend Ribery,” fi elded a strong side for the visit Berlin urged Germany’s bestselling Bild of Championship side Rother- newspaper. ham, with Raheem Sterling, The news portal T-Online Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus ayern Munich yesterday went even further, slamming all starting as playmaker Kevin said it will impose “a Bayern for not taking fi rmer ac- De Bruyne returned from injury. heavy fi ne” on Franck tion. Sterling made it 1-0 in the 12th Ribery over an obsceni- “Ribery should not play for minute and City then scored ty-lacedB outburst on social me- Bayern anymore,” it said in an twice in the closing stages of the dia, after the French striker be- editorial. “With this fi ne, the fi rst half. came embroiled in controversy club falls short of drastic reper- Phil Foden, the England Un- for eating a gold-coated steak. cussions and that is a fatal sig- der-21 international, got on The punishment comes after nal.” the end of a cross from Ilkay Ribery lashed out at critics in a Ribery’s outburst comes less Gundogan in the 43rd minute string of angry posts on Twitter than two months after the for- to score his fi rst home goal for and Instagram on Saturday. It is ward insulted and attacked City before Rotherham defender Manchester City’s Phil Foden (left) celebrates with teammates Riyad Mahrez (centre) and Raheem Sterling after scoring a goal against the latest scandal to engulf the French TV pundit Patrick Guil- Semi Ajayi turned the ball into Rotherham United during their FA Cup match in Manchester, England, yesterday. (AFP) 35-year-old, who is deeply un- lou who had criticised his per- his own net. popular in his native France but formance following Bayern’s 3-2 Jesus made it 4-0 early in two minutes from time sealed a “I mean they (Sheffi eld Unit- Deeney scored from close range. kick-off . revered by German fans. loss against Dortmund. the second half before Mahrez, comeback win. ed) are third in the Champion- “It was a good performance,” On Saturday, FA Cup hold- “I had a long talk with Franck Bayern later made Ribery post a Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Daniel Iversen compounded ship and we beat them at their Gracia told BT Sport. “I was sure ers Chelsea cruised to a 2-0 win and I let him know that we would video apology on the club web site. Sane added further goals. Fulham’s misery by saving an ground.” it was the best option for us (to over Nottingham Forest, while impose a heavy fi ne on him and Despite being known as one of “We are going to try and do Aleksandar Mitrovic penalty Watford manager Javi Gracia change the side) because we knew Manchester United beat Read- he accepted it,” the club’s sport- France’s best players, Ribery is well in every competition we just moments earlier. changed his entire starting side it would be a demanding game.” ing 2-0 to make it fi ve wins out ing director Hasan Salihamidzic little loved at home, partly be- play in,” Guardiola told the BBC. “It is Roy of the Rovers stuff ,” from the team that drew 3-3 at Millwall came from a goal of fi ve under caretaker boss Ole told journalists in Qatar, where cause of his perceived key role Turning to Foden, he added: said Oldham boss Pete Wild. Bournemouth, with Venezuela down to beat Championship ri- Gunnar Solskjaer. the club is on a training camp. in the French team’s infamous “He missed some simple passes “The character in the dressing forward Adalberto Penaranda vals Hull 2-1, substitute Shane Arsenal, the record 13-times “He used words that we, FC training ground strike during and he needs to be solid but he is room is phenomenal.” making his Hornets debut at Ferguson scoring twice inside FA Cup winners, won 3-0 at Bayern, cannot accept and that their disastrous 2010 World Cup young. When he attacks the cen- Elsewhere, Barnet beat Cham- non-league Woking. the closing eight minutes. Blackpool, West Ham beat Bir- Franck does not have the right to campaign in South Africa. tral defenders he is incredible.” pionship high-fl yers Shef- But hopes of Woking, 110 QPR defeated Champion- mingham 2-0 and Everton de- use, as a role-model and player of Ribery’s reputation was also fi eld United thanks to Shaquile places adrift of the Hornets, ship leaders Leeds by the same feated Lincoln 2-1. FC Bayern,” added Salihamidzic. damaged by allegations that he ‘PHENOMENAL’ OLDHAM Coulthirst’s 21st-minute penalty. enjoying a shock win suff ered scoreline, Jake Bidwell grabbing Premier League leaders Liver- On Thursday, Ribery posted had had sex with an underage Denis Odoi put Fulham ahead in “It’s unbelievable — that’s the a setback when Will Hughes a 75th-minute winner for the pool will complete a third round a video on social media show- prostitute although charges in the 52nd minute at Craven Cot- only word I have at the minute,” curled in a 13th-minute shot west London club. that started with Tottenham’s ing him in a Dubai steak house the case were dropped for lack of tage but Sam Sturridge drew said Barnet captain Callum Rey- from the edge of the area. Fourth-tier Newport County 7-0 thrashing of Tranmere on owned by celebrity Turkish res- evidence in 2014. Oldham level with a penalty nolds after the north London Watford made it 2-0 16 min- are at home to Premier League Friday when they travel to top- tauranteur Salt Bae and rubbing Ribery announced his retire- before Callum Lang’s header club’s triumph. utes from time when Troy Leicester in Sunday’s 1630 GMT fl ight rivals Wolves today. his hands before tucking into a ment from France duty after the huge chop coated in gold. 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which That ostentatious luxury, and he missed due to a back injury. the reported cost of the meal, But run-ins with the media drew ferocious criticism before and perceived displays of ar- Blackpool fan protests on roof of Arsenal team bus Ribery — who earns an estimated rogance have kept Ribery in the 8mn euros a year with the Ger- headlines, and he has repeat- Reuters Oyston and many are boycott- a comfortable outing with a man champions — hit back. edly been mocked on the French London ing home games with gates sparse home crowd outsung by Salihamidzic made clear that satirical puppet show “Les averaging only 4,129 at their the Arsenal following. Ribery did not pay the bill him- Guignols” as a dim-witted, out 17,000-seater ground which The 19-year-old Willock became self because he had been invited of fi gure. rsenal’s team bus was hosted Premier League football the youngest Arsenal player to the restaurant. It’s a diff erent story in Ger- briefly delayed on the in 2010-11. to score in an FA Cup tie since “Franck has been slandered many, where Ribery is known as Away to their 3-0 FA Cup Lancashire Police told the BBC Aaron Ramsey in 2010. and insulted,” said Salihamid- “King Franck” to grateful Bayern third round win at Blackpool that the protest lasted about His day could have been even zic. “And not only Franck, but supporters. on Saturday after a home fan 40 minutes before the man better but a linesman’s flag his pregnant wife, his child and Since joining the Bavarian gi- climbed onto its roof in protest was persuaded to come down ruled out a hat-trick goal. his mother, who is currently in ants in 2007, Ribery has helped at the Lancashire seaside club’s and was arrested “on suspicion “It’s a brilliant day for me on a hospital for an operation. Franck the team win the Champions owners. of an off ence under the Trade personal note but I’m proud of wanted to defend himself and League in 2013 as well as eight The fan was photographed Union Act”. how we did as a team as well. I defend his family. He has the Bundesliga titles and fi ve Ger- sitting on top of the coach at The Arsenal team arrived don’t think the scoreline reflects right to do that. I support him in man Cups. Arsenal’s team hotel shortly in good time for kickoff and how well we played,” he said. that, but unfortunately he totally Although he now sees less time before the London side were to fears of more protests proved “The linesman crushed my lost control.” on the pitch than in his younger depart for the 1730 GMT kickoff unfounded as the London club dreams with the hat-trick but German media and social me- days, Ribery fi nished 2018 in at Bloomfield Road. cruised to victory with teen- Arsenal’s Joe Willock celebrates his goal on Saturday. (AFP) that’s football and hopefully I dia users had called on the reign- style scoring four goals in the fi - Supporters of third-tier Black- ager Joe Willock scoring twice can get another opportunity ing Bundesliga champions to nal three matches of the year. pool have regularly protested and Alex Iwobi once. assignment for Arsenal against their League Cup clash earlier soon. Hopefully the boss keeps punish the striker, who is out of But Bayern bosses have indi- against club owner Owen What could have been a tough a side who caused a scare in this season ended up being believing in me.” contract at the end of the season cated the current season is very after 11 years at the club. likely to be Ribery’s last. Gulf Times 4 Monday, January 7, 2019 CRICKET

SYDNEY TEST India force Australia follow-on in 30-year fi rst AFP putting on 42 with Mitchell Starc for Scorecard the last wicket before he fell to Yadav, who was the pick of the bowlers with INDIA 1st innings 622-7 declared 5-99 - his second career fi ve-wicket ruthless India took a stran- haul. AUSTRALIA 1st innings (overnight 236-6) glehold on the fi nal Test in India lead the four-Test series M. Harris b Jadeja 79 Sydney yesterday as they 2-1 and only need a draw to clinch a U. Khawaja c Pujara b K. Yadav 27 forced Australia to follow on fi rst-ever series win Down Under, atA home for the fi rst time in 30 years, with Kohli’s men on the cusp of doing M. Labuschagne c Rahane b Shami 38 leaving the hosts facing a full day’s something no Indian team has man- S. Marsh c Rahane b Jadeja 8 batting to cling on for a draw. aged since they began touring Australia T. Head c & b K. Yadav 20 Play started almost four hours late in 1947-48. due to rain, with the home team re- Bowling coach Bharat Arun said In- P. Handscomb b Bumrah 37 suming on 236 for six after lunch in dia’s key motivation throughout the T. Paine b Yadav 5 reply to India’s thumping fi rst innings series was simply to get in front and P. Cummins b Shami 25 622 for seven declared. stay there. But needing a win to level the four- “The onus of this particular group is M. Starc not out 29 match series, Australia crumbled to putting the team in front. Irrespective N. Lyon lbw Yadav 0 300 all out, compounding the misery of what situation we are in, we say we J. Hazlewood b Yadav 21 after some soft dismissals by the top are going out there to put our best foot Extras (b4, lb2, w5) 11 order on Saturday as they stare down forward and play our best cricket,” he the barrel of defeat. said. Total (10 wickets, 104.5 overs) 300 Indian skipper Virat Kohli sent them “At the end of the day, the eff ort is Fall of wickets: 1-72 (Khawaja), straight back into bat – the fi rst time what counts.” 2-128 (Harris), 3-144 (S.Marsh), 4-152 Australia have been asked to follow on It would be a deserved accomplish- (Labuschagne), 5-192 (Head), 6-198 at home since Mike Gatting’s England ment to win the series with their bats- (Paine), 7-236 (Cummins), 8-257 did the same in 1988, also in Sydney. men – spearheaded by stoic number (Handscomb), 9-258 (Lyon), 10-300 Marcus Harris, not out two, and Us- three Cheteshwar Pujara – a class (Hazlewood) man Khawaja, unbeaten on four, sur- above, and their bowlers brutally ex- Bowlers: Shami 19-2-58-2, Bumrah vived four overs before tea was taken posing Australia’s weaknesses. 21-5-62-1, Jadeja 32-11-73-2, Yadav early for bad light. So far in Sydney, none of Australia’s 31.5-6-99-5, Vihari 1-0-2-0. They didn’t come back with play batsmen have managed to put together abandoned for the day. India’s Kuldeep Yadav (right) acknowledges the crowd as he walks off the ground with captain Virat Kohli (second right) and the marathon innings needed, with Middle-order batsman Peter teammates after taking five wickets during the fourth day’s play of the fourth and final Test against Australia at the Sydney Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and Tim Paine AUSTRALIA 2nd innings Handscomb said it would be “huge” Cricket Ground yesterday. (AFP) all out in the fi rst innings to poor shots. M. Harris not out 2 if Australia could bat out the fi nal day Harris’ breezy 79 – remarkably the and salvage a draw. we can take some confi dence if we can ball straight away and threw it to his boundaries to move to 37 before swip- highest score by an Australian the en- U. Khawaja not out 4 “We’ve got a really, really good last out the day and show the coun- quicks. It immediately paid dividends ing at a Jasprit Bumrah delivery and tire series – was the exception. Extras 0 chance to shift some momentum back try, the world, that we’re not far off with Pat Cummins, who scored a gutsy dragging it onto his stumps. Unless someone gets a hundred in Total (0 wickets, 4 overs) 6 into our camp, not just for the upcom- clicking and being a really, really good 63 in the Melbourne Test, lasting just That brought Nathan Lyon to the their fi nal knock, it will be the hosts’ ing one-dayers (against India), but team.” three balls, clean bowled by Mohamed crease but he only lasted fi ve balls, out fi rst century-less four-Test home se- Bowling: Shami 2-1-4-0, Bumrah there’s the World Cup also and the India’s spinners had picked up fi ve Shami without adding to his overnight lbw to a full toss from Kuldeep Yadav. ries in their history. 2-1-2-0. Ashes,” he said. of the six wickets on Saturday, but 25. Hanuma Vihari dropped a sitter Former skipper Ricky Ponting la- “Technical, mental, whatever those “This momentum can start tomor- under overcast skies when play fi nally The recalled Handscomb began with when Josh Hazlewood was on nought, mented so many soft dismissals mistakes may be, they’ve made a lot of row. We know as a batting group that began on day four Kohli took the new purpose, confi dently stroking two and it proved costly with the tailender throughout the series. mistakes,” he said.

SECOND TEST SPOTLIGHT SA want respect for ‘positive’ cricket aft er South Africa ease Du Plessis banned

AFP Cape Town

he South African team management yesterday called for to series-clinching fl exibility in dealing with over-rate regulations following a one-match ban imposed on captain Faf du Plessis. He will miss the third and fi nal Test against Pakistan Tstarting in Johannesburg on Friday. Du Plessis was banned for one Test after being found guilty, for the second time in a 12-month period, of captaining a team which maintained a slow over-rate. South Africa opted for an all-pace attack in the second Test at win over Pakistan Newlands and were found by match referee David Boon to be one over short of the required rate of 15 overs an hour after time allow- ‘There is always something in the wicket here and you need to be on form with the bat’ ances were taken into account. Team media manager Lerato Malekutu said: “The team man- Reuters agement and Faf have accepted and respect the decision as it falls Cape Town under the International Cricket Council code of conduct. Scorecard “However they feel there could be a bit of fl exibility given the PAKISTAN 1st innings 177 four-pronged seam attack, taking 20 wickets within three days outh Africa reeled off and playing a positive brand of Cricket, rather than trying to delay their modest victory tar- SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings 431 or slow down the match.” get of 41 runs early on the PAKISTAN 2nd innings 294 Du Plessis had scarcely fi nished extolling the virtues of Test fourth day of the second SOUTH AFRICA 2nd innings Cricket – and in particular the excitement generated by fast TestS against Pakistan to clinch bowlers – before he found himself banned because of the time it the series with a comprehensive D. Elgar not out 24 takes those bowlers to deliver their overs. South Africa won the nine-wicket triumph at New- T. de Bruyn c Sarfraz b Abbas 4 match – and clinched the series – with almost two days to spare. lands yesterday. H. Amla retired hurt 2 Du Plessis was previously found guilty of what the Internation- Opener Dean Elgar scored an al Cricket Council, in announcing the ban, described as a “minor F. du Plessis not out 3 unbeaten 24 as the home side over-rate off ence” after the second Test against India in Centu- added to their victory in Pretoria Extras (b4, nb1, w5) 10 rion in January last year. last month and will be looking Total (1 wkt, 9.5 overs) 43 In addition to the ban, Du Plessis was fi ned 20 percent of his to sweep the series in the third Fall of wickets: 1-4 (De Bruyn) match fee and the rest of the players were fi ned 10 percent of their match at the Wanderers in Jo- fee. In his post-match press conference, after South Africa com- hannesburg, starting on Friday. Bowlers: Mohamed Amir 5-2-17-0 (1nb, pleted a nine-wicket win on Sunday, Du Plessis said South Africa The Proteas will have con- 1w), Mohamed Abbas 4-0-14-1, Azhar Ali were determined not to “take our foot off the gas” and hinted that cerns over their top-order bat- 0.5-0-8-0. they may again pick four fast bowlers for the Johannesburg Test. ting, however, with opener Result: South Africa won by nine His absence is a big blow for the hosts. He has proven to be one Aiden Markram not taking to the wickets of Cricket’s most eff ective captains and his century in tricky bat- crease in the second innings with Series: South Africa lead the three- ting conditions earned him the man of the match award and an- a severely bruised right thigh match series 2-0 chored what of late has been a fragile batting line-up. and Hashim Amla retiring hurt Opening batsman Dean Elgar took over the captaincy on the after he was struck on the bicep. last occasion Du Plessis missed a Test, in England in 2017 when Added to that, middle-order Du Plessis fl ew home for the birth of his fi rst child. batsman Theunis de Bruyn, dep- Elgar was given the job despite Hashim Amla, a former captain, utising for Markram at the top being in the side. Aiden Markram, Elgar’s opening partner, is seen of the order, continued his poor as a future Test captain. run when he was the only wicket He was made captain of the one-day side in a home series to fall, caught by wicketkeeper against India last year but could not prevent India winning 4-1, Sarfraz Ahmed off seamer Mo- while he struggled with his own batting form. hamed Abbas for four. Both Amla and Markram were injured during the Newlands “We played very well,” South Test but are expected to be fi t for Johannesburg. Africa captain Faf du Plessis, Zubayr Hamza is a member of the current Test squad as a back- who was also named man of the up batsman and is likely to win his fi rst cap in place of Du Plessis. match for a fi rst-innings centu- Malekutu said the selectors would make a decision “in the next ry, said at the post-match pres- few days” regarding a replacement for Du Plessis in the squad. entation. “There is always something in the wicket here at Newlands Banned Warner, Smith make BPL debut and you need to be on form with the bat. We know if we get runs Banned Australian cricketers David Warner and Steve Smith on the board, our bowlers will do made a low-scoring debut in the Bangladesh Premier League the rest.” yesterday, amassing just 30 runs between them as newly- Du Plessis felt the key to vic- minted skippers in the Twenty20 league. tory was restricting Pakistan to The duo, who are serving international bans for ball tamper- 177 in their fi rst innings in what South Africa’s Dean Elgar celebrates with Faf du Plessis (right) after winning the 2nd Test match against Pakistan at Newlands yesterday. (Reuters) ing, faced off in the BPL opener in Dhaka, with Smith’s Comilla was the most diffi cult time to bat Victorians edging Warner’s Sylhet Sixers by four wickets. in the Test on day one. POOR START CRITICAL in an innings for the fi rst time in on the wicket at the iconic Cape men are batting, that’s how you Warner hit off -spinner Mahedi Hasan for three fours at the “I think day one was moving Pakistan will take positives from the series. They were eventually Town venue but South Africa, learn in test cricket,” he said, Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium before a mix-up saw him run day in terms of the pitch, but it a test in which they avoided an dismissed for 294, setting their with Du Plessis scoring 103, re- adding the team would have out for 14 off 13 balls. got easier to bat on and yesterday innings defeat with a stout bat- hosts a modest target, which plied with 431. benefi ted from more warm-up Smith had Shahid Afridi to thank for his side’s win after the Pakistan were in a good position ting performance on Saturday South Africa had hoped to knock Touring captain Sarfraz ad- matches ahead of the fi rst Test. Pakistani batsman struck 39 off 25 balls to elevate Comilla to to bat on and get a 150 lead and to force the contest into a fourth off on Saturday but ran out of mitted a bad start, in which they “For me, playing two or three 130-6 in the penultimate delivery of their innings. The pres- then who knows what happens. day. Shan Masood, Asad Shafi q time and were forced to come lost fi ve wickets in the fi rst ses- practice matches (is best) but we ence of Smith and Warner, banned from internationals and “I still feel there was enough and Babar Azam all scored half- back on Sunday. sion, proved their undoing. only played one match here. Our Australian domestic cricket after admitting to ball tampering in it for batters and bowlers. At centuries as Pakistan produced Pakistan scored 177 in their “It’s hard to recover if you’re batsmen showed their courage, in the South Africa Test last March, is expected to be a major times it was diffi cult but that’s their best day of batting on tour fi rst innings and were critical of losing fi ve wickets in the fi rst hopefully we’ll have confi dence draw for the BPL. Test cricket.” and scored more than 200 runs the uneven bounce and cracks session, but the way our bats- (into the third test).” Gulf Times Monday, January 7, 2019 5 SPORT

NBA SPOTLIGHT Doha Triathlon Raptors beat Bucks, on February 8 By Sports Reporter Doha

he third edition of Doha Triathlon will be held around Museum of Islamic Art on February 8. The Qatar National Tourism Authority spon- sored event is being organised with the support Warriors-Kings hit Tof Qatar Triathlon Federation and Qatar Museums. Those wishing to participate in the event can visit www.doha- triathlon.com to register until February 4. ‘We came out tonight with a Doha Triathlon off ers a starters race – the super sprint distance for beginners and children 13-15 years old, with a pass-first mindset and to take 375m swim, a 10km cycle and a 2.5km run. It will be held alongside the Qatar National Championship and other rac- open shots. It worked out’ es. Participants will join a good mix of professional, inter- record threes national, local and amateur athletes, for a unique opportu- FP nity to cycle on Doha Corniche, swim in the safe waters of Los Angeles the bay, and enjoy the greeneries of the Museum of Islamic Art Park. Speaking on the occasion, last awhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam year’s national champion Ebra- scored 30 points each as the To- him al-Rumaihi in his message ronto Raptors used a balanced to all new athletes said: “Stay al- attack to outduel the Milwaukee ways consistent, there is nothing KBucks 123-116 in a battle of the top two NBA more rewarding than being con- teams. sistent in all aspects of life”. He is Leonard was back to his old self on Satur- preparing himself at the moment day night following an emotional return to for a tough battle for the title as San Antonio on Thursday to face his former he expects the three top athletes team, who bottled him up and routed the from last year to improve. Raptors 125-107. Aday Alvarez, best overall in the Olympic distance, said But he got plenty of help from a strong “I have enjoyed the last two editions of Doha Triathlon too supporting cast as Toronto seized command much and looking forward to the next one. The venue and in the second and third quarters and then organisation are so good that I believe it can host an ITU survived a Milwaukee rally in the fourth. Asian Cup or even a World Cup in the upcoming years. Hav- “We thought we didn’t play great defence ing been twice on the podium, I am wishing to repeat it this last game so we wanted to come out aggres- year. The level of competition has incredibly increased this sive and pass the ball and get some more year, so hard work and a mini training camp in Gran Canaria open shots and it fell in for us tonight,” Le- (Spain) is my strategy to face the race next February.” onard said. Siakam fi nished with a career- The races also promise excitement for athletes compet- high 30, Serge Ibaka added 25 points and ing in the Qatar Triathlon Federation’s National Triathlon nine rebounds, Fred VanVleet had 21 points, Series, a scoring system for national ranking comprising of and Danny Green 12 points and nine re- fi ve opportunity events to score four best results. bounds as the Raptors beat the Bucks for the Young upcoming triathlete Ethan Bennett is currently leading the series, while elite females Pia Sundstedt, Isora Sosa Caballero and Julie Melville, are amongst other up- RESULTS coming local athletes in the female category. New Orleans 133-98 Cleveland The event will also include a Fun Duathlon for kids, aged between 7 to 12 years old. They will cycle and run for short Toronto 123-116 Milwaukee distances around the park. San Antonio 108-88 Memphis Triathlon Director at Qatar Triathlon Federation Prof. Philadelphia 106-100 Dallas Nasser al-Mohannadi said: “We are very happy to celebrate Portland 110-10 Houston the third event in Qatar National Triathlon Series. The Mu- seum of Islamic Art Park is a lovely location for triathlon. Golden State 127-123 Sacramento As the Board Member of Cycling and Triathlon Federation Utah 110-105 Detroit and a founding president of QTRI, I would like to thank Qa- Denver 123-110 Charlotte tar Museums for their support and for hosting the event, along with all the other sponsors and partners, who con- fi rst time this season. tributed to make the event a success for all. Triathlon is the Giannis Antetokounmpo had 43 points fastest growing sport in the world and locally.” and 18 rebounds for Milwaukee, who came into the contest on a fi ve-game winning streak. Malcolm Brogdon added 15 points, and Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe each had 14. While the Raptors were trying to for- Britton agrees to three-year get about being trounced in the Alamo City, deal to stay with Yankees the Bucks were coming off a 144-112 victory over Atlanta on Friday. Left-handed relief pitcher Zach Britton, obtained by The Raptors salted the game away with a the New York Yankees at the trade deadline with the 15-2 fourth quarter surge which was high- Baltimore Orioles in July, apparently feels at home in the lighted by a three pointer from Siakam that Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (left) drives to the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton in the fourth quarter Big Apple. On Saturday, multiple sources reported that gave them a 110-98 lead with just over fi ve at the Fiserv Forum. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Britton has agreed to a three-year, $39 million guaran- minutes to play. teed deal with the Yankees. He will average $13 million a “We came out tonight with a pass-fi rst 40 three-pointers was set last February in Curry scored 20 of his 42 in the fi nal with a 110-101 win over the Houston Rock- season, a league source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. mindset and to take open shots. It worked a game between the Minnesota Timber- quarter and also made a pair of free throws ets. Harden fi nished with 38 points, falling The source confirmed the Yankees can exercise a fourth out, all of us had 20 plus,” Leonard said. wolves (19) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (21). with nine seconds to go. just short of his sixth straight game with 40 guaranteed year after 2020, but if they don’t, Britton Trailing by as much as 13, the Bucks Golden State, who blew a 20-point lead Buddy Hield scored 32 points on a career- or more. Portland was the last team to hold can opt out at that time. Britton, 30, compiled a 3.45 opened the fourth quarter with a 14-4 run and lost 135-134 in overtime to Houston on high eight threes for Sacramento, who went Harden under 30 points when he had 29 in ERA over 16 appearances (15 2/3 innings) for the Orioles and led 96-95 with 8:12 left. Thursday, had another big lead disappear in on a 15-0 run in the fi rst half. The Kings set Houston’s 111-104 home victory on Decem- before he was dealt last season to the Yankees, record- Elsewhere, Stephen Curry scored 42 the third quarter Saturday – but they man- a franchise record with 20 baskets from be- ber 11. CJ McCollum added 24 points and ing three saves with a 2.88 ERA in 25 appearances. In points and fi nished with 10 three pointers as aged to regroup and rally past the Kings in yond the arc. Damian Lillard fi nished with 17 points and 2017, he had a 2.89 ERA over 38 appearances before the Golden State Warriors stormed back to the fourth. Kevin Durant added 29 points, 12 rebounds for the Blazers, who have won suff ering an Achilles injury. In 2016, he finished fourth in the beat the Sacramento Kings 127-123. nine assists and fi ve rebounds, and Klay HARDEN’S STREAK ENDS three of their last four games. the American League Cy Young voting after compiling a The teams combined to make 41 three- Thompson scored 20 points to help the In Portland, Jusuf Nurkic had 25 points and Austin Rivers scored a season-high 21 0.54 ERA with 47 saves while giving up just 38 hits in 67 pointers, breaking the record for the most Warriors complete a three-game sweep of 15 rebounds, and the Portland Trail Blazers points while Clint Capela had 13 points and innings for the Orioles. threes in a contest. The previous record of the season series. snapped James Harden’s 40-point streak 21 rebounds in the loss.

FOCUS Heat’s Wade humbled to learn he inspired Wizards’ Beal By David Furones It got Wade to thinking of some of “It’s our duty and our job to pass Sun Sentinel the guards that were in their prime as down to the next generation, to inspire he entered the league and shaped his the next generation,” he said. “A lot of development. our dreams, a lot of our visions becom- postgame jersey swap for “I’m humbled by it because I know ing basketball players come from the Wade has become the norm those guys when I came into the guys that you see. Growing up obvi- this season, but Friday night’s league,” Wade said. “You know, I had ously in Chicago, I watched everything exchange with Washington the (Allen) Iversons and the Kobe Bry- that WizardsA all-star guard Bradley Beal ants of the world — and those guys (Michael) Jordan did. I wanted to go was special. On the heels of Beal’s meant a lot to my growth when I was out and emulate those things. 33-point performance in the Heat’s young. Just a special moment.” Without that, without having the 115-109 victory at AmericanAirlines Beal’s comment and the fact that he vision of those kind of players, I don’t Arena, he revealed something to Wade. was inspired by Wade were felt by Erik know if I had the vision to become “He’s part of the reason that I wear Spoelstra too. Dwyane Wade, the basketball player.” number 3,” said Beal, a 6-foot-5 shoot- “I had goosebumps when I read Wade said previous interactions ing guard and Florida alum. “For the that,” the Heat coach said. “You see a with Beal, competing mostly in the fi rst time, I told him that (Friday) night. number 3 and you wonder, and then Southeast Division together, were I’ve never told him that in all the years you realise, ‘Oh, boy. Dwyane had such “just respectful banter back and forth that I have played against him.” an impact like right away out of the over the years.” Beal has spent all of his After the Heat’s Saturday practice gates in his career.’ These guys were re- fi rst seven seasons in Washington and ahead of a Sunday game in Atlanta ally young watching him in the Finals. Wade spent all but a season and a half against the Hawks, Wade refl ected on “It’s a point I keep on making to our of that time in Miami. what it means to learn he had such an players. You want to be remembered, The Wade-Beal jersey swap helped infl uence on Beal, who earned his fi rst but you have to win. Dwyane has been put things in perspective on just how All-Star Game appearance last season. to fi ve Finals, three championship impactful Wade’s career has been, and “When he told me in that moment, I rings, he’s sacrifi ced a lot to be able to he’s looking forward to fi nding out was appreciative,” Wade said. be a part of winning programs.” more stories about inspiration he has “Then, later on, you get time to Winning is one of Beal’s major take- provided. think about the impact that you’re able aways from Wade’s career. “Hopefully I inspired more Bradley to make on the game of basketball and “It means a lot to me to be able to Beals of the world,” Wade said. “If I younger players – and younger players have his jersey because he has three didn’t inspire, then I didn’t. Hopefully that have turned into young stars in our championships,” Beal said Friday. more people liked my game than they league. “He’s one of the best two guards to ever didn’t like my game - because I gave “To be able to be a part of their play, and I’m happy that I was able to everything I had to it, especially when growth in any way, I’m humbled. ... I compete against him for seven years.” I was younger. I just went out there and just appreciate him for keeping it in all As one of the league’s top players gave these years and telling me at this time over the past decade and a half, Wade it everything that I had, and it was when it mattered to be able to hear feels it’s an obligation for top NBA good enough, hopefully, to have Brad- those words as my career is winding players to continuously pass down to ley Beal and other players in the NBA Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat trade jerseys at the end of their NBA game at down.” those that come behind them. look up to me in any capacity.” American Airlines Arena in Miami on January 4. (AFP) Gulf Times 6 Monday, January 7, 2019 SPORT

DAKAR RALLY GOLF Woodland leads, Toyota must capitalise McIlroy in pursuit in Hawaii

Reuters New York on Peugeot withdrawal, ary Woodland followed up a spectacular eagle on 15 with a birdie at the last to restore his three-shot lead over Rory McIlroy at the PGA Tour’s Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Saturday. GThe American, who moved to 17-under 202 after three rounds, said he had to keep his emotions in check during his fi ve-under 68 after learning of the death of his grand- says team manager Hall mother the night before. “It was a tough night last night but today was a good day. ‘We have a good car, good drivers, the same team from last year. It is a positive continuity’ I played great,” Woodland told the Golf Channel. The 34-year-old provided the shot of the day on the par-fi ve 15th when he banked a curving 64-foot putt off the fl agstick for eagle and the outright lead, moments after McIlroy had pulled into a share with a birdie on 14. McIlroy, on 14-under 205, was alone in second, a shot ahead of Australian Marc Leishman (68) in third on a breezy day at the scenic island course in Maui. Woodland, who has won three times in 231 starts on the PGA Tour, said he had learned how to turn promising positions into victories. “I’ve been in this position before but I’m a completely diff erent kind of player now. I’ll use all those experiences to my advantage and take what I can from them,” he said. After his bogey-free 68, Northern Ireland’s McIlroy said staying patient would be crucial if he was to notch his 15th career PGA Tour victory. “I played in six fi nal groups last year, most of them coming from behind, and I probably just pushed a little too hard trying to catch up, trying to play a perfect fi rst six holes and it didn’t really work out for me,” he said.

LEADING THIRD-ROUND SCORES 202-Gary Woodland 67-67-68 205-Rory McIlroy (NIR) 69-68-68 206-Marc Leishman (AUS) 68-70-68 207-Xander Schauff ele 72-67-68, Bryson DeChambeau 69-68-70 209-Justin Thomas 67-72-70, Kevin Tway 66-71-72 210-Dustin Johnson 67-74-69, Jon Rahm (ESP) 70-71-69 211-Patton Kizzire 69-71-71 212-Paul Casey (ENG) 73-71-68, Andrew Putnam 69-73-70 213-Troy Merritt 73-71-69, Charles Howell 74-70-69, Ian Poulter (ENG) 71-69-73, Cameron Champ 71-68-74 214-Webb Simpson 70-72-72 215-Andrew Landry 69-75-71, Brandt Snedeker 75-69-71, Jason Day (AUS) 69-71-75 217-Scott Piercy 76-72-69, Matt Kuchar 72-73-72, Patrick Reed 70-75-72, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 73-71-73.

Toyota Gazoo Racing team’s Nasser al-Attiyah (also in inset) in his Toyota Hilux during the Rally of Morocco.

Autosport Al-Attiyah and de Villiers will again be Peru 2019 route. Lima partnered by third driver Bernhard ten “Last year we had a very good chance of Brinke, who likewise was a frontrunner last winning, but we had a mechanical problem. year and claimed a stage win. Peugeot had four cars and everyone helped oyota Gazoo Racing South Africa Toyota will face opposition from the X- each other,” he said. must capitalise on the opportunity raid Mini team - which signed three drivers “This year we will try to give Toyota a to claim a milestone fi rst Dakar win from Peugeot’s works line-up and will also historic fi rst place in the Dakar. This is the for the Japanese marque in 2019, fi eld fi ve of its regular 4x4s - as well as the Dakar that I like the most, with 70% of the Tsays team manager Glyn Hall. PH Sport-entered privateer Peugeot of Se- course in dunes.” Toyota Hilux cars fi nished best of the rest bastien Loeb. According to Hall, the team made only behind the dominant Peugeots in the previ- “We hope we can do a very good job, we minor changes to the Hilux that contested ous two editions of the Dakar, with Gazoo need to give Toyota that fi rst place they have the 2018 event. drivers Nasser al-Attiyah and Giniel de Vil- not yet achieved,” said 2009 champion de “The base is the same,” he said. “We liers making up the podium behind winner Villiers. changed the cooling system because we had Carlos Sainz Sr last year. “We have the same pressure as last year too much cooling last year. Now that Peugeot has withdrawn from with Peugeot, I think we may have a slightly “We worked a lot on the suspension and cross-country rallying, Hall is convinced greater chance of winning now that there is the shock absorbers, we made the car more his team must seize its chance. no offi cial team, but it will be a tough race. comfortable for the drivers, because their “Last year our goal was also to win, but The team that makes fewest mistakes will seat was too high. this year we have to do it,” Hall told Aut- continuity. win.” “We have an air restrictor [that’s] 1mm Gary Woodland reacts on the 15th green after making a putt osport. “We had two chances to win [in 2018], but Al-Attiyah, who won with Volkswagen in narrower than in 2018, which implies fi ve for eagle during the third round of the Sentry Tournament “We have a good car, good drivers, the we fi nished second and third. This year we 2011 and Mini in 2015, says he is encouraged percent less power, but we changed the of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club same team from last year. It is a positive must achieve it.” by the prevalence of sand dunes in the all- characteristics of the engine slightly.” in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Getty Images/AFP)

NFL Cowboys rally past Seattle, Colts top Texans AFP just take off .” injury in the fi rst quarter after that way was really great,” Luck Washington Prescott praised Elliott’s pun- a 14-yard reception and did not said. Houston fi nally cracked ishing eff ort, saying, “He’s a hell return. Seattle seized the lead on the Colts’ defense with 10:57 re- of a player and he always wants Russell Wilson’s 4-yard touch- maining in the fourth quarter as ak Prescott rallied the the ball. I’m thankful I have him.” down run late in the third quarter Watson made a 6-yard touch- Dallas Cowboys to an Sunday’s fi nal fi rst-round and Mike Davis ran in a 2-point down pass to rookie Keke Coutee. NFL playoff victory playoff matchups fi nd defending conversion. But the Texans turned over the over Seattle on Satur- Super Bowl champion Philadel- Dallas reclaimed the lead 17- ball on fourth down on the Colts dayD while Andrew Luck powered phia at Chicago and the Los An- 14 on Elliott’s 1-yard touchdown 24-yard line on their next drive the Indianapolis Colts into the geles Chargers at Baltimore. plunge with 12:28 remaining and and Indianapolis secured a 10th second round with a victory at A Chicago win sends the Bears Prescott scored on a 1-yard run victory in 11 games. Houston. to face the Rams and Dallas to with 2:08 remaining for a 24-14 The Colts became only the Prescott threw for 226 yards and New Orleans. If the Eagles ad- Cowboys edge. Wilson connected third NFL team to start 1-5 and a touchdown and ran for another vance, they would travel to top with J.D. McKissic on a 7-yard reach the playoff s, going 9-1 to score as the Cowboys edged visit- seed New Orleans and the Rams touchdown pass with 78 seconds close the regular season, while ing Seattle 24-22 while Luck had would host the Cowboys. In the remaining and a 2-point run put the Texans were the fi rst NFL two touchdown passes in the Colts’ American Conference playoff Seattle within the fi nal margin playoff team in 20 years to start 21-7 triumph over the Texans. opener, Luck completed 19 of 32 but Dallas recovered a poor onside the NFL season 0-3. Ezekiel Elliott ran for 137 yards passes for 222 yards while Marlon kick attempt and ran out the clock. “Very tough. It’s frustrating. and a touchdown for Dallas as the Mack ran 24 times for 148 yards It’s very frustrating,” Texans de- Cowboys advanced to a second- and a touchdown. Indy’s defen- COLTS WIN WITH LUCK fender J.J. Watt said. “Got to give round National Conference play- sive unit snuff ed out a late rally At Houston, Luck fl ipped a the Colts a lot of credit the way off game next weekend against bid by the Texans and the Colts 6-yard touchdown toss to Eric they played today from the fi rst either top seed New Orleans or advanced to a second-round Ebron and an 18-yard TD pass quarter. We didn’t do enough to the second-seeded Los Angeles game next Saturday at the top- to Dontrelle Inman while Mack win today and it sucks.” Rams. seeded Kansas City Chiefs. scored on a 2-yard run as the Dallas needed two fourth- “We get another one next week Colts leaped ahead 21-0 at half- RESULTS quarter touchdowns and the best and that excites me,” Luck said. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is tackled at the one yard line by Seattle Seahawks free safety Tedric time. “We were on the details,” First-round playoff rushing day against the Seahawks “It’ll be fun. That’s a great team. Thompson in the fourth quarter in an NFC Wild Card playoff game at AT&T Stadium. PICTURE: USA TODAY Luck said. “We played disci- American Conference by any club this season to subdue It should be a great game.” Sports plined. We made plays.” At Houston Seattle. “This team, everything The Saints, Rams, Chiefs and SEAHAWKS SENT HOME Brett Maher kicked a 39-yard hawks to chase touchdowns and Mack’s eff ort was the rstfi 100- Indianapolis Colts 21 Houston we’ve been though, we had so New England Patriots - who face Prescott’s 11-yard touchdown fi eld goal for Dallas and Sebastian 2-point conversions in the sec- yard run performance allowed by Texans 7 much confi dence coming into this the Baltimore-Chargers win- pass to Michael Gallup with 24 Janikowski answered for Seattle ond half. Houston all season. “Our guys up National Conference game and the confi dence remains,” ner - had fi rst-round byes and seconds remaining in the second from 27 and 42 yards but hurt his The Cowboys suff ered a set- front just kept plugging away and At Dallas Prescott said. “It’s about how we will host second-round playoff quarter gave Dallas a 10-6 half- left leg on a 57-yard miss to end back when receiver Allen Hurns Marlon took a couple of those and Dallas Cowboys 24 Seattle Sea- compete against adversity and we games next weekend. time lead. the fi rst half, forcing the Sea- received a gruesome left ankle just shimmied and to fi nish it out hawks 22. Gulf Times Monday, January 7, 2019 7 TENNIS

SPOTLIGHT RELIEF Halep fi t aft er Stars lament potential ‘scary’ back end of injury The event is widely tipped to be scrapped to make way for the new ATP World Team Cup

AFP nec back in 2002, said it would Perth be “a pity” if the event did not continue. “We had an unbelievable he likely demise of the event here for so many years — Hopman Cup after the Hopman Cup has been very three decades of the successful from a player’s view- unique mixed teams point,” the three-time winner Ttennis tournament has been said. greeted with sadness by players “The players have always en- at this year’s edition, with Sere- joyed this event, so let’s hope na Williams calling the prospect it continues in some shape and “heartbreaking”. form,” said Federer, adding that Swiss duo Roger Federer and he believed a mixed teams event AFP Belinda Bencic beat Germans was good for tennis. Sydney Alexander Zverev and Angel- “Where and how and what, ique Kerber in Saturday’s fi nal honestly I don’t know,” he add- in front of a sell-out crowd in ed. orld number one Perth, but it is expected to be Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, Simona Halep the last instalment of the event. who played four times at the yesterday admit- A dramatic fi nish to what was Serena Williams says it Hopman and won the title with Wted a back injury arguably the best Hopman Cup would be heartbreaking if the Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2014, was that ended her 2018 season early ever — which also saw Federer Hopman Cup is scrapped. mortifi ed by the prospect of the was “very scary”, but she has re- and Serena face off for the first event disappearing. covered and is feeling fi t heading time in a historic mixed doubles “That would be the worst into the new season. clash — came down to a single thing ever,” she said. The Romanian hasn’t played match point shared by both sides “Losing the Hopman Cup af- since withdrawing from the in the fi nal. ter losing and every- WTA Finals in Singapore in Oc- However, the event is widely thing that is happening with the tober with a herniated disc, and tipped to be scrapped to make ITF, I think it’s a big shame. said she did nothing for six weeks way for the new ATP World Team “I think people, what they en- to get over it. Cup, which will start next year. joy about this competition, is the “It was very scary because it While Tennis Australia has a fact that it’s mixed. was below the back, so it’s al- contract with the West Austral- “It’s just a unique and spe- ways dangerous. But I had treat- ian State Government to run cial competition and losing it, I ment at home, I rested for about the ITF-sanctioned tournament would be very sad.” six weeks and I did nothing, just until 2022, the new ATP event Zverev, beaten in the fi nal two exercises for the back,” she told would make it very hard for years in a row, said he hoped reporters ahead of the Sydney the Hopman Cup to attract top there would be a chance to atone International this week. men’s players. and that he hadn’t played his “I didn’t have pain while I was American superstar Serena, last Hopman match. practising this period, off -sea- who was playing in Perth for the “It will be tough to swallow son. So now I feel confi dent and fi fth time in her career and has breaking,” she said. she said. “We all will be sad that Australian players Paul Mc- has held a unique place in the because I will remember this as it’s okay. But I need to see during won the title twice, said she was German world number two it is the last time at Hopman Namee and Charlie Fancutt and tennis world as the only top level our last ever match,” he said. the offi cial match. unaware of speculation on the Kerber, who has reached succes- Cup. named after Australian tennis mixed teams tournament. “It was a great match, but “I feel relaxed, I feel rested, I Hopman’s fate, but that she was sive fi nals in the past two Hop- “Playing here as a team with great Harry Hopman, the Hop- Swiss legend Roger Federer, we came so close and lost it, so feel healthy with the back. But as upset by the prospect of it van- man Cups, was saddened by the your partner, playing the mixed man Cup has been used as prep- with fi ve appearances in Perth I hope there will be many more I said, I didn’t play a match yet so ishing. news. which is exciting, I will miss it.” aration for the Australian Open including one partnered with chances to play the Hopman I don’t know for sure how it’s go- “Obviously it would be heart- “I really love the tournament,” Launched in 1989 by former by three decades of players and his future wife Miroslava Vavri- Cup.” ing to be.”

BOTTOMLINE FOCUS Goerges beats Nishikori claims Brisbane title Andreescu to retain AFP Brisbane Auckland crown apanese star Kei Nishikori claimed his fi rst title since 2016 when he downed Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in the fi nal of the Brisbane Internation- alJ yesterday. The Japanese star had not won a tourna- ment since Memphis in 2016 and was ham- pered by a wrist injury the following year which forced a break from the 2018 tour. He was runner-up in Brisbane in 2017 but went one better this year in a superb fi nal. Nishikori dominated his Russian rival throughout, despite a slight hiccup when one poor service game cost him the second set. The second seed started slowly and went down 0-3 to the Russian. But he recovered to break back and then seized the advantage at 3-3 when he broke Medvedev again, taking the fi rst set in 42 min- utes. Nishikori was all over the Russian in the second set, his powerful and well-directed groundstrokes forcing Medvedev into errors. Winner Julia Goerges of Germany (L) and runner-up Bianca Medvedev held on against Nishikori’s mul- Andreescu of Canada pose with their trophies in Auckland yesterday. tiple chances to break at 2-2 and 3-3 and took advantage of his opponent’s poor service AFP tournament to make the main game to break ahead. Auckland draw. “I felt like in the second set I was a little bit, The 18-year-old then beat like waiting too much and I couldn’t convert three top 50 players on her way all the chances I had,” the Russian said. ulia Goerges drew on her to her fi rst WTA fi nal includ- “And he did really well the last game, I mean experience to retain the ing former world number ones the 4-3 game. He took the risk and he did well WTA Auckland Clas- Caroline Wozniacki and Venus and credit to him for second set. sic title yesterday as she Williams. “I had so many chances and I thought I cameJ from a set down to end the Her form continued into the Japan’s Kei Nishikori poses with the winning trophy after defeating Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the final of the Brisbane could win in two sets.” International tennis tournament yesterday. stunning run of Canadian teen fi nal when she raced through the Any thought Medvedev would take the sensation Bianca Andreescu. fi rst set and recovered from an momentum into the decider proved wrong There were tears from the early service break in the second as Nishikori stormed to a 5-1 lead, eventually Pliskova overhauls Tsurenko to win women’s crown 30-year-old German in an emo- to lead 5-4 when her concentra- wrapping up the fi nal in just over two hours. tional celebration who took the tion wavered. “I realised I had to do something to win this Brisbane: Karolina Pliskova used all going the other way.” world number eight’s career and sets match 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 with the fi - “A 5-4 in the second set it was match and I think I made a change really well,” her big match experience as she came Tsurenko took the first set in 38 min- Pliskova in good stead ahead of the nal point coming when an An- really hard for me to stay in the he said. from a set down to overhaul Ukraine’s utes, firing 10 winners and making 81 % Australian Open. dreescu forehand went into the moment. I was ‘oh my god I’m “I think I returned well — that was the big- Lesia Tsurenko and win the Brisbane of her first serves. The 26-year-old has long been touted net. one game away from winning gest key, I think. I was able to return very deep International yesterday. She took that form into the second set as a future winner of a Grand Slam, but “This win means a lot to me this tournament’,” Andreescu and I think I put him under pressure.” The unseeded Tsurenko looked and broke Pliskova early. despite a stint as world number one, because not everything was said. Nishikori said he was pleased with his form headed for the biggest win of her ca- However, serving for the match at 5-4, her best result in a major was runner- working well in the beginning,” “But Julia dominated from heading into the Australian Open, a tourna- reer when serving for the match at 5-4 she tightened up and Pliskova won 13 up to Angelique Kerber at the 2016 US said the 30-year-old Goerges that point.” ment at which he has never progressed further in the second set, only for Pliskova to of the next 14 points to level the match. Open. who needed all her experience Andreescu broke every serve than the quarter-fi nals. come storming back to win 4-6,7-5, 6-2 The third set was all Pliskova as she But she said her ability to win the final and patience to recover from be- by Goerges in the fi rst set, at one “The main goal is to do well in Austral- and claim her second Brisbane title. broke Tsurenko twice to wrap up the would help her in Melbourne. ing down 4-5 in the second set stage leading 4-0 before drop- ian Open, but I’m really happy that I’ve been Pliskova, the tournament’s Czech fifth final in two hours, 12 minutes. “When you’re able to turn these match- after losing the fi rst. ping her own serve twice. playing really well this week,” he said. seed, started slowly and paid the pen- “I don’t know what really changed at es around, it gives you some extra and “I used my experience to- But the wily Goerges, 30, was “Even if I lost today, I think I was very con- alty against Tsurenko, who was serving 5-4,” Tsurenko said. diff erent confidence,” Pliskova said. day and really went for it in the not fi nished, and the momen- fi dent, and some of the matches I played some superbly and winning the battle from “I think we had the great fight until “So it’s not about only playing well. important moments. My coach tum began to shift when she of the best (players). the baseline. 5-4, and then suddenly, I don’t know, Sometimes you just feel horrible, and came at 5-4 and helped me fi nd broke the Canadian at the start “So, I’m happy to go in Melbourne, and I “I just felt somehow tired from the maybe she raised her level so much it’s going to happen in Grand Slams for some solutions,” she said. of the second set. feel like it’s one of my favourite tournaments beginning of the day,” Pliskova said. that I was not ready for that. sure because it’s for two weeks, so you The ice-cool Andreescu had Although she dropped her there. “I was missing my shots, just not feel- “It’s going to be a big lesson for me, cannot play amazing for two weeks. stunned the tennis world dur- own serve at 4-4, Goerges gath- “I feel like I have much support and feel al- ing the timing perfectly. I was sleeping and I’m trying to stay positive.” “I think I just dug deep today, and that’s ing the week having arrived ered herself to break Andreescu most home there so I hope I can do well better bad. So everything was somehow The Brisbane title is the 12th of the important.” in Auckland ranked 152nd and again at 5-5 and held serve to than quarter-fi nal.” needing to play in the qualifying take the set.